I consider myself to be in pretty good shape. I watch my diet. I exercise. In general I stay pretty fit. But after suffering from a BACTERIA ATTACK I don’t feel bulletproof any more.
A few weeks ago I spent three days bay fishing, mostly in the Boggy Bayou area. On the morning of the fourth day I was washing off my fishing gear and putting it away when I noticed what felt like a small bruise on my left foot. Within a half hour the pain got worse and I began to tremble uncontrollably. I made it upstairs and piled on all the blankets I could find and crashed onto the couch trying to fight off flu-like symptoms. It was several hours later when a close friend suspected that something was wrong and came to my door to check on me. I still wasn’t quite sure what was wrong so my friend helped me into my bed to see if it could sleep it off. The pain in my foot continued to get worse and I developed a high fever. It didn’t take long to realize that I was not going to get better so I phoned my wife who drove from the Woodlands to Port O’Connor to take me home to get medical help.
Within 24 hours after the first symptom I checked into the emergency room at the hospital in the Woodlands. I was diagnosed as having cellulitis, a skin infection caused by bacteria. I was then admitted into the hospital where I was treated for five days with three powerful antibiotics administered intravenously.
Dr. L. Palau, an infectious disease specialist, was called in to oversee my treatment. As the symptoms further developed Dr. Palau explained that most likely the infection was caused by vibrio vulnificus, the flesh eating bacteria usually found in salt water. I was released from hospital after five days and was then further treated for sixteen days with I.V. infusions of antibiotics at Dr. Palau’s Infectious Disease Clinic.
After five weeks of treatment it appears that the infection has gone away. I can now walk on the affected foot but it will take up to six months or so before most of the damaged tissue will be healed. Unfortunately, instead of concentrating on fishing I am spending the summer just working on getting well again.
Twenty or so years ago, according to Dr. Palau, there were only two known bacteria living in the waters around us that we had to worry about. Now there are over 22 known types. They range from skin eating to flesh eating. The bacteria enters the body through the skin when in contact with water. This is facilitated if you have a scratch, cut, abrasion or insect bite through which the bacteria can enter. However, some cases have been reported where there was no apparent break in the skin. A compromised immune system or circulatory problem makes you even more vulnerable. However, age is not necessarily a factor as this disease attacks people of all ages.
How to prevent the disease? Staying out of the water and not getting wet is the obvious answer but for us fishermen that is a pretty tough decision to make. But, for those of us who have a scratch, cut, abrasion or insect bite it is highly advisable that you stay out of the water and keep these areas completely dry. I would not trust any preventive medication or remedy to be applied to your skin to prevent being eaten by bacteria. We are dealing with one tough bug here.
What should you do if you suspect that you have contracted the bacteria? Seek professional medical attention at the first signs of pain, redness and swelling followed by flu-like symptoms including trembling and fever. Emergency rooms at local hospitals would be a good place to start as they are now most likely aware of the disease and how to treat it. But keep in mind that time is of the essence. The longer you wait to get medical attention the more severe the condition will become and the possibility of losing a limb is very real. And, if that isn’t bad enough, if left untreated or if treatment comes too late the bacteria can enter the blood stream and attack the body’s organs. A condition that is often fatal.
I have written the above article so that I can share my experience with you, my fellow fishermen, to make sure that you are aware of the unseen danger that we face when fishing. Get out there, enjoy the sport but remember, none of us are bulletproof.
